Aluminum Shipments by Japan Drop at Slowest Pace Since November

Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Japan’s shipments of aluminum rolled products dropped at the slowest pace in ten months in September, led by a recovery in demand from the auto and electronics industries. Supplies to the domestic and export markets declined 18 percent to 157,085 metric tons from 192,328 tons a year earlier, the Japan Aluminium Association said in a statement today. The pace of decrease slowed for a seventh month after beginning to drop in October. Shipments plunged 39 percent in February, the worst slump in 34 years. Manufacturers boosted metal purchases to expand production as government incentives raised sales of energy-efficient cars and appliances. Japan’s vehicle sales increased 3.5 percent in September from a year earlier, marking a second straight month of gain, as government subsidies and tax cuts helped lift demand for hybrid cars. To contact the reporter on this story: Aya Takada in Tokyo at atakada2@bloomberg.net